Player

Impact exercises 2016 options on 10 players

Options2016

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Monday that the club exercised options on 10 players and re-signed two players to new deals, bringing its total to 23 players under contract for the 2016 season.


“We are very pleased to confirm that our club will be able to count on the core and depth that brought us a lot of success in 2015,” said Impact technical director Adam Braz. “We are nonetheless continuously looking to improve our roster.”


The club exercised options on goalkeepers Evan Bush, Eric Kronberg and Maxime Crépeau, defenders Donny Toia, Wandrille Lefèvre and Eric Miller, midfielders Kyle Bekker, Eric Alexander and Maxim Tissot, as well as forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel.


Midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and forward Dominic Oduro have also signed new deals with the club.


The Impact had previously announced on November 16 that defenders Laurent Ciman and Ambroise Oyongo, midfielders Patrice Bernier, Marco Donadel, Calum Mallace, Ignacio Piatti, Nigel Reo-Coker, Andrés Romero and Johan Venegas, and forwards Didier Drogba and Romario Williams were under contract for 2016.


Forward Cameron Porter is currently out of contract, but the club is in advanced talks to bring him back next season.


The Impact has declined the options on defender Hassoun Camara and forward Kenny Cooper. Per Major League Soccer rules, the Impact has until Thursday, December 10 to re-sign any re-entry draft eligible players, including players whose options were not exercised.


Midfielders Justin Mapp and Dilly Duka have both received new offers from the club, after their contracts expired at the end of the 2015 season.


The club is also in discussions to try and bring back defender Victor Cabrera, who was on loan with the Impact last season from Argentine club River Plate.